Definition
Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker variant in the world. Each player receives two private cards ("hole cards"), and five community cards are dealt face-up on the board. Players make the best five-card hand using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards.
The Basic Flow
1. Two players post blinds (forced bets)
2. Each player receives 2 hole cards
3. Betting round #1 (Preflop)
4. Three community cards dealt (Flop)
5. Betting round #2
6. One community card dealt (Turn)
7. Betting round #3
8. One community card dealt (River)
9. Betting round #4
10. Showdown - best hand wins
The Cards
| Card Type | Count | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Hole Cards | 2 per player | Private |
| Community Cards | 5 total | Shared by all |
| Your Final Hand | Best 5 of 7 | Shown at showdown |
Making Your Hand
You can use:
- Both hole cards + 3 community cards
- One hole card + 4 community cards
- Zero hole cards ("play the board")
🃏 Example
Your cards: A♠ K♥
Board: Q♠ J♠ T♠ 5♣ 2♦
Your best hand: A♠ K♥ Q♠ J♠ T♠ = Ace-high straight
(Using both hole cards + 3 community cards)
Game Formats
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| No-Limit (NL) | Bet any amount up to your stack |
| Pot-Limit (PL) | Bet up to the pot size |
| Fixed-Limit (FL) | Fixed bet amounts each round |
No-Limit Texas Hold'em (NLHE) is by far the most common.
Quick Reference
The Streets
| Street | Cards Dealt | Total Community Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Preflop | 2 hole cards | 0 |
| Flop | 3 cards | 3 |
| Turn | 1 card | 4 |
| River | 1 card | 5 |
Winning the Pot
You win by:
- Having the best hand at showdown, or
- Making all opponents fold before showdown
Key Takeaway
Texas Hold'em is simple to learn but takes a lifetime to master. Understanding these basic rules is your first step—the strategy comes next.